Monday, March 21, 2011

Hey Jay Bilas. You fail the eye, ear AND laugh test

The face of inexplicable and unaccountable arrogance.

On this, the morning after VCU became the first team ever to reach the Sweet Sixteen by winning three NCAA Tournament games, we remind you of Jay Bilas’ words on Selection Sunday (thank you TIVO!) and offer up his comment about VCU last night. Not because we think it’ll change anything, or that Bilas will stumble over here and deign to find religion, but because arrogance, ignorance and a lack of accountability—even if his “defense” is the need to stir stuff up in order to get attention, generate discussion and draw ratings—deserves to be spotlighted, mocked and scorned:

“This is competition. We’re supposed to make the right decisions. What I’m saying is these are HORRIBLE decisions, and I’ve been saying for years that I think we need more basketball people on the committee. And I don’t say that because I think the committee does a bad job. I think the committee, year after year, does a good job. It’s always done a good job. I’ve always said we need more basketball people on the committee because I think we should do the best possible job.”

[snip]

“When I look at UAB and VCU at the expense of these other teams—now, look, we’re not talking about great teams here, I understand that—but I wonder if some people on the committee know whether the ball’s round. That sounds harsh. But I’m wondering. These were bad decisions. They’re indefensible.”

[snip]

“UAB and VCU can win. But a bunch of teams can win. This isn’t about ‘can win.’ This is about proving you belong in this tournament—who’s best, who’s proven that they’re best who’s accomplished. These teams haven’t accomplished anything.”

[snip]

“These were bad decisions. And we talk about the eye test—this one fails the laugh test. This one doesn’t make it through the laugh test.”

And Jay Bilas last night, asked which team seeded third or lower can make the Final Four (he picked Wisconsin):

“It’s hard to say no to VCU right now, the way they’ve been playing. They’ve had two technical knockouts in the first two rounds of the tournament.”